News launches Pennies for Presents fundraiser in Alberni

Charlie Jones checks out her piggy bank for pennies to kick off the Alberni Valley News’ Pennies for Presents campaign.

At Christmastime each year, the community newspapers of Black Press—of which the Alberni Valley News is a member—promote an Island-wide charitable campaign called Pennies for Presents. The News is happy to launch this campaign for the first time in the Alberni Valley this month.

The Pennies for Presents campaign was the brainchild of the late Frank Legh, a classified advertising consultant with Black Press. In 1996, Legh launched the Island-wide campaign with the simple goal that no child should be left empty-handed on Christmas morning.

In the 15 years since, the Pennies for Presents campaign has raised more than $618,000 in pennies, nickels, dimes and other change for various Island charities.

“It’s exciting to take part in this successful Black Press project for families in Port Alberni,” News publisher Teresa Bird said.

“Although other Island papers within our company have run this program before, we decided to embrace the Pennies for Presents campaign as our five-year anniversary community service project.”

Each community newspaper chooses its charity or charities to receive the funds raised during the month-long campaign, Bird said.

The Alberni Valley News has chosen the Port Alberni Toy Run as the first-ever recipient of our Pennies for Presents campaign. “We’re happy to be partners with the Toy Run because of the work they do in the community; the work they do with children,” Bird said.

“One hundred per cent of the funds will go to their organization.”

We’re asking community members to donate their spare change—we’ll take every denomination—over the next five weeks to help provide children with happy memories on Christmas morning.

Coins can be dropped off at the Bank of Montreal branch at Third Avenue and Argyle Street, at C2 Salon in the Adelaide Shopping Centre, 4746 Johnston Rd., or the Alberni Valley News office, 4656 Margaret St., beside Big Pig Subs. Coins do not have to be rolled.

For more information on Pennies for Presents, or for those wishing to become a drop-off location, please call publisher Teresa Bird at 250-723-6399 or e-mail publisher@albernivalleynews.com.